Potential repurposed SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection drugs

Abstract

The global outbreak of COVID-19 viral infection is associated with the absence of specific drug(s) for fighting this viral infection. About 10 million people are already infected, about 500 000 deaths all over the world to date. Great efforts have been made to find solutions for this viral infection, either vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, or small molecule drugs; this can stop the spread of infection to avoid the expected human, economic and social catastrophe associated with this infection. In the literature and during clinical trials in hospitals, several FDA approved drugs for different diseases have the potential to treat or reduce the severity of COVID-19. Repurposing of these drugs as potential agents to treat COVID-19 reduces the time and cost to find effective COVID-19 agents. This review article summarizes the present situation of transmission, pathogenesis and statistics of COVID-19 in the world. Moreover, it includes chemistry, mechanism of action at the molecular level of the possible drug molecules which are liable for redirection as potential COVID-19 therapeutic agents. This includes polymerase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, malaria drugs, lipid lowering statins, rheumatoid arthritis drugs and some miscellaneous agents. We offer research data and knowledge about the chemistry and biology of potential COVID-19 drugs for the research community in this field.

Fig. 1. Global total deaths of COVID-19 starting from 23 January to 21 June 2020 (data from Worldometer).

Fig. 2. Global death rate among all cases and confirmed cases according to gender.

Fig. 3. Death rate among all cases and confirmed cases according to the presence of pre-existing disease.

Fig. 4. Death rate among different age range according to data obtained from the first 44 672 confirmed cases in China.

Fig. 5. Structure of some nucleoside, nucleotide and pyrophosphate analogs.

Fig. 6. Structure of some polymerase inhibitors used in treatment of COVID-19.

Fig. 7. Structure of lopinavir and ritonavir, a-ketoamide protease 1 and 2, anti-HIV protease inhibitors.

Fig. 8. Structure of serine protease inhibitors nafamostat and camostat.

Fig. 9. Structure of malaria drugs effective in CoV.

Fig. 10. Structure of potential antiviral chloroquine analogues.

Fig. 11. Structure of rosuvastatin.

Fig. 12. Structure of methotrexate, leflunomide, teriflunomide, baricitinib and ruxolitinib as examples of DMARDs.

Fig. 13. Structure of ivermectin B1b.